Drama

Front 1

Theatre manager

Back 1

Responsible for and manages the front-of-house team who deal with the audience during the production (e.g. box office staff, ushers).

Front 2

Understudy

Back 2

Studies another's role so they can take over when needed.

Front 3

Playwright

Back 3

Writes the script, including all characters, plot and stage directions before handing it over to the producer and director.

Front 4

Sound designer

Back 4

Responsible for designing the sound required for a performance, including underscoring, intro and outro music and specific effects.

Front 5

Costume designer

Back 5

Researches and designs appropriate clothes based on themes, time periods and characters in the piece. Works in the wardrobe.

Front 6

Box office

Back 6

In charge of ticket sales on the phone, online and on the door.

Front 7

Usher

Back 7

Shows audience members to their seats, sell refreshments at the interval and generally look after the public.

Front 8

Director

Back 8

Has creative responsibility for the performance. Works with a vision and an aim.

Front 9

Set designer

Back 9

Responsible for the design of a set for a performance. Works closely with the director and other designers so there is unity between all the designs and the needs of the performance.

Front 10

Stage manager

Back 10

Ensures the smooth running of the show from backstage. Oversees all technical elements and is in charge of the performance space at all times.

Front 11

Actor

Back 11

Employed to perform in the piece, taking instruction from the director at all times. Must attend all rehearsals and learn their lines.

Front 12

Technician

Back 12

Operates the sound and lighting in the theatre not only during a performance, but also during technical rehearsals.

Front 13

Floods

Back 13

Used to provide large area washes of clear, wide angled light. They come equipped with a gel frame and are especially useful for lighting backcloths. The beam can't be shaped, so generally other lighting types are more versatile. Coloured filters can be used with this lamp.

Front 14

Fresnel lanterns

Back 14

Give a soft-edged beam (diffusing lens in front of the lamp) with a large range of size variation. Used to create (sometimes coloured) washes of light. Preferable to flood as size and shape of beam can be altered. Have external barn doors which shape the beam but don't sharpen it.

Front 15

Profile spots

Back 15

Give a sharply defined image/outline of any object, used to light characters/elements on stage. They are fitted with 4 shutters which can be pushed into the light beam, shaping its appearance on stage. The beam can be focused from hard-edged to soft. Usually a slot in the lantern for gobos.

Front 16

Gobos

Back 16

Cut out metal patterns whose image is projected onto the stage

Front 17

Coloured gels

Back 17

A coloured gel/filter is a transparent coloured material which can be added to the front of some lanterns to produce coloured light or for colour correction.